Date night at our favorite oyster bar in Portland, Maine was memorable. To start, a glass of chardonnay for him and the Testarossa for me — tequila, jalapeno, and blood orange soda. Exotic with some heat, which I needed, as the frosty weather continues to hold strong here in Maine.
Winterport, John’s River, Basket Island, Wild Belon, and Ebenecook…
Yep, next we ordered oysters on the half shell. All varieties we chose were local and came from coastal mudflats throughout Maine (thus, each kind is named after its location). And, they all had different tastes and characteristics which played out in unique ways on our tongues.
The feast continued to unfold with Eventide lobster rolls topped with a brown butter vinaigrette, washed down with Allagash Black, our favorite tasty local dark beer. We shared spicy carrot cake and a pot of bold french pressed Tandem local coffee for dessert. When we dine out we prefer a small table for two, but this night we decided to try something new by eating dinner at the bar. And loved it! We made friends, my favorite being our way-cool, attentive bar tender who shared our passions for delicious, lovingly-prepared simple food. I would close my eyes, drink in an oyster, and enjoy the gastronomic fireworks show on my tongue. I’d open my eyes and tell our bartender and my husband about the journey, including any thoughts or memories that were jogged. She’d nod enthusiastically and tell me about her experience with tasting that same oyster. One reminded her of the taste of fresh-baked bread. I now have a girl crush! We met a freelance photographer from Connecticut who told us all about his luxury car photo shoot the next day (his light painting flash technique held this Photoshop gal’s interest), and were introduced to a vodka distributor — who happened to be sitting close by within earshot and appeared over my shoulder, seemingly “on cue,” offering to send me a vodka sample simply because I happened to be admiring the design of his company’s bottle behind the bar — a very surreal coincidence that still makes me chuckle when I think about it! — almost like a commercial or whacky scene from a play…
Woman/Me (speaking to the bartender): “Wow, that’s such a cool design for a vodka bottle! Very artistic and interesting shape! Like a bottle of fine cologne!”
Bartender displays the fancy rectangular vessel, petting it, like one of the girls on the Price is Right. Vodka distributor immediately appears stage left out of thin air, white teeth flashing, gesturing over the woman’s shoulder.
Vodka distributor: “Would you like a bottle for yourself? That’s my company and I’d be happy to have one delivered right to your doorstep for you to enjoy. It has an exceptionally smooth taste… (more white teeth flashing)”
LOL. I’m not kidding — that’s exactly how it went down! And of course I did accept his offer!
So yes, I adore having a private table with my Love, but I have to say, sitting at the bar can be quite the ravishing good time adventure!
XO
Sharing:
I am having a blast working with the talented Sebastian Michaels of the popular website Photoshop Artistry. I’m offering my latest online workshop through his site — I’d be delighted to have you join me for The Art of iPhoneography Self-Portraiture!
What makes you feel most fully engaged with life?
This time of year, midwinter in Maine, is when I begin to thirst for color in my surroundings, ache for more light in the sky, lust for those teases of spring in the air. And when the weather forecaster predicts yet another snow storm with a stretch of frigid temperatures (we’re talkin’ sub zero-land and single digits) my December-January enthusiasm is replaced with a slumping sigh, that is, until I once again witness the magic it brings, blanketing my world in perfect, pristine sparkling white fluff and pointed shards of glass-like ice at the roof’s edge. Gets me every time!